Frans misses EP record by three seconds in 10km race
Leading Nelson Mandela Bay road runner Melikhaya Frans came within a whisker of breaking the EP 10km record at the second edition of the NMBM road-running series at St Albans on Saturday.
Frans stopped the clock at 28min 16sec, only three seconds slower than the 28:13 set by Abner Chipu in 1999.
Frans was the first male to cross the finish line and the time was a huge improvement on his time of 29:39 in Colchester, which he also won.
The 31-year-old and his coach, Mike Mbambani, were both emotional at the finish.
“I ran out as hard and fast as I could,” Frans said at the finish line.
Yanga Malusi of Zwelonke athletics club finished in second position in a time of 30 minutes, an improvement on his Colchester time when he came third in 30:33.
Mariano Eesou, of Madibaz, ran his personal best and finished third in 30:15.
In the women’s race, Kelly van Vliet was the first woman home at St Albans in 36:28 and crowned the EP champion.
She was in high spirits after the race, where she had to race to the finish with Nwabisa Mjoli of Ikhamva athletics club, who finished second in 36:35.
“It was a hard race with a sprint finish but I have been working on my sprints and I am so happy to race again and grateful to be challenged by such awesome women athletes,” Van Vliet said.
Ntombesintu Mfunzi finished third overall in a time of 36:56.
“I am very happy with my performance today.
“I won my age category [3539 years] and took 22 seconds off my previous 10km race in Colchester two weeks ago,” Mfunzi said.
The second road-running series was well supported by participants from throughout the Eastern Cape, all eager to get back into road-running.
Xolisa Ndlumbini of Vukani Club won the 35-39 years men’s age category in 31:24.
Renee Hawkridge, 70, of Bluewater Bay Club, had an excellent finish in a time of 53:27, breaking the EP record for her age group.